Chapter 54: Blow-ups Happen

“Cameron last week. Chrissy this week. What am I supposed to think?” Imogene asked.

“You were with me both weeks, and it’s platonic in both cases. Christ, I’m nearly fifteen years older than Chrissy. Why does everyone think I’m lusting after her? She could almost be my daughter. I told you about Cameron this week. I’ve been above board and honest with you every step of the way. Where is this jealousy coming from?”

Imogene had tears in her eyes as we walked along the white gravel drive. Chrissy had headed straight inside, leaving me to my own defense with Imogene. We walked on silently for a few paces.

“I’m sorry,” Imogene said softly. “I’m falling for you and fear I’m just being a silly girl who is going to be cast aside by someone more beautiful or more talented, or just available to you. I can’t chase after you on a daily, weekly, or even monthly basis. You’re rich, and talented, and handsome, and worldly, and I’m just a dancer.”

I stopped and turned her by her shoulders, looking down into her blue eyes. Suddenly, I had to face my own feelings; my own fears.

“I can only tell you how I feel about you. I think you are a fascinating lady, an accomplished dancer, an incredible lover, and are becoming a good friend. I find it easy to talk to you and I enjoy spending what time we can together. I don’t want any of that to change. But I also am not going back to being cloistered away when you’re not around. I have businesses to run, and I have friends, many of whom are women. I don’t want you to feel threatened by them. It’s not like I’m picking up new girls every weekend at the club scene.”

She looked back at me, as if searching my face for some sign. She sighed, nodded, and then hugged me.

“I’m sorry, Paul. I am a little jealous when I only get a few hours with you and then end up having to share you. I’ve told you how competitive I am. When I saw you running with Chrissy this morning, I was just suddenly furious. I can’t even explain why I was, but that’s what I felt. I’m sorry if I took those feelings out on you.”

I kissed the top of her head.

“I’m sorry, too.”

We turned and walked back to the house holding hands. I was surprised to see the kids both up and at the breakfast table in the kitchen. Chrissy had put a sweatshirt on over her Diamond Skin sports bra and was sitting between Ali and Jer.

Ali saw us first. “Daddy, can we take Chrissy riding today?” she asked.

“I’m not sure we have any riding gear that will fit her,” I said. “You can ask Mr. Murray, but we might have wait until we can do a little shopping.”

I looked at Imogene. “Would you like to ride?” I asked.

She shook her head. “I can’t afford to be sore going back to practices, and I don’t have anything suitable to ride in, either.”

I gave her an arched eyebrow and smiled when she blushed.

“How about you guys ride and the adults just watch today?” I suggested.

Ali gave a dramatic sighed while Jer nodded.

Five minutes later, the kids were heading to the stables, leaving Chrissy with Imogene and me.

“So, what are the plans today?” Chrissy asked. “You two probably want a little time alone,” she said with a little grin.

Imogene gave her a surprised look and then glanced at me.

I shrugged. “I had no real plans for the day. What would you like to do?”

We ended up splitting up after watching the kids ride for a bit. Chrissy was showered and dressed by the time Ali finished riding. Ali was excited to take her flying, so they headed out to the airstrip. Jer wanted to work on some landscape drawings, so I got cleaned up and then he and Imogene and I packed a picnic lunch and took a hike across a field, over a small brook, and up a hill that gave a nice view back toward the house and buildings. Jer set to work and Imogene and I relaxed on a large blanket.

“Is this a more ‘normal’ Sunday for you?” Imogene asked as we strolled back later that afternoon.

“It depends. Back home, the kids usually have friends or other activities they’re involved with on the weekends. I try to spend a few hours with them each week, doing something they want during the school year.”

“It’s been a nice day. I’m sorry I nearly ruined it this morning,” she said.

“You didn’t ruin anything. It has been a nice day. Jer’s happy. I’m happy. Are you happy?”

Imogene smiled at me and nodded. “I am. Do you want me to stay tonight?”

It was my turn to nod.

“But I want to go with you,” Ali said. Jer was nodding along as well.

July and most of August had slipped past. Imogene and I had fallen into a pattern of spending Sundays and Mondays together on her off days with occasional dates during the week depending on our schedules. Mondays had shrunk to mornings only when Hunter returned to work, but it was generally an idyllic summer.

“Hunter and I are going to the lab to work,” I told the kids. They had insisted they go when I told them I’d be gone for several days. “I’m not going to be able to spend time with you guys. Wouldn’t you rather stay here where you can finish the summer with horses, flying, drawing and relaxing?” I asked.

They both shook their heads.

“I want to go swimming at the lab,” Ali said.

“I want to draw the desert,” Jer added.

“School starts in two weeks, Daddy. Please let us go with you.”

It was definitely the ‘Daddy’ voice Ali was using.

I looked at the calendar. The summer had definitely gone by quickly.

“You actually have three weeks before school starts,” I countered. “We’ll go back to Utah for Labor Day weekend and you start the Tuesday after that. Hunter and I need to set things up and run our first test this week. I’ll be back Friday and then you guys can go with me next week. Maybe Imogene can join us since her season here is wrapping up Saturday.”

Ali looked like she was going to argue some more but must have seen my mind was made up.

“Okay. Can I call Jane?”

The change in topic caught me off guard and I just nodded. She ran from the room and Jer gave me quick hug before leaving with a quick, “Thanks, Dad.”

I shook my head and looked at Imogene. “Would you like to come back to the States with us next week?” I asked her.

She smiled and then laughed. “I feel like I have to, after all that. What is your lab?”

I explained about our place in Nevada.

“It’s definitely a change from Ireland,” I said. “I don’t want to pressure you, but it would be nice to have you in my desert retreat for a week or two,” I added with a leer.

She laughed again. “I’d love to come. But only for a week. I really need to spend a little time back in Texas with my family. I haven’t seen them since March.”

“How about we spend a week in Nevada, and then I’ll fly you down to Texas. They’re outside Dallas, right?”

She nodded and then gave me a strange look. “Do you want to come to Dallas with me? I’m sure Mom and Dad would like to meet you.”

“I’d like to meet them as well, but we’ll have to see. Hunter and I are a little behind schedule with some of the re-castings we had to do this summer. I’ve also got to consider the kids. School snuck up on me this year. I need to make sure they have everything they need to start.”

Imogene nodded. “I understand. We’ll play it by ear. What schedule are you and Hunter on?”

“We’ve got two lander configuration OTVs for lunar work right now. We have to use liquid propellant rockets for the landing since our fusion engines can’t be throttled low enough. Our new design solves that. At least we hope it does. That’s what we need to test. If it works, we’ll change the OTVs and then start building our lunar base.”

“Why wait for the engines?” she asked.

“We’re pretty safety conscious. We’re careful but refueling those engines at Astra Station is a risk I don’t like, especially when you consider we have to ferry those volatiles to orbit and store them on Astra as well.”

Imogene sighed. “I guess this is getting to the part of the year where your priorities and mine start falling out of synch. I’ve got a few weeks until we start back to five-day-a-week rehearsals for the fall season. I’ll be starting back up my off-day workouts and extra practice. The first few weeks are critical to the selection of roles for the fall and winter season.”

I reached across the corner of the table to take her hand in mine. “We’ll work it out,” I said. “It won’t be easy, but I want to make the effort.”

She squeezed my hand. “So, do I.”

We sent the kids to see ‘The Iron Giant’ with Nicole and spent the afternoon in bed. The next morning, Hunter and I hopped on the GOT and headed to Nevada. It was still dark when we landed. The sun was coming up by the time we had our cargo of sub-assemblies moved to the lab and were busy starting the assembly and check-out processes.

Two days later, we moved the engine ten miles and onto our test stand.

By Friday, we were into final checks before the initial test firing. We stopped after running through the final post assembly checklist and headed back to Dublin for the weekend. The kids were happy to see me and then disappointed when I left them at home again to go see Imogene’s final performance with the Irish National Ballet.

Sunday was spent packing. Imogene came back out to the house with two large suitcases and joined us for dinner. That night, we hopped over to Nevada with Hunter, Lila, and Ian.

Imogene was awed by the house set into the canyon wall. She was amazed at the summer warmth after leaving a cool, rainy Ireland. Ali wasted no time throwing her things in her room and heading for the swimming pool on the lowest terrace level. The blue light of the pool was a cool, inviting beacon in the red sunset over the far canyon wall.

“Ali’s not putting on a suit?” Imogene asked as my daughter stripped down by the pool and the dived in.

I laughed. “Ali seems to have inherited a little exhibitionist gene from her mother. Jeryl loved running around nude here since it’s so private and so warm. She taught the kids not to be embarrassed by skin.”

Imogene slipped and arm around me and gave me a hug.

“You still miss her, don’t you?”

“How can I not? I see so much of her in Ali and Jer.”

Imogene nodded.

“But I see a lot of similarities in you, too,” I added.

“Oh? I’m not ready to strip down and swim right now, if that’s what you’re asking,” she teased to lighten the mood.

I shook my head. “No, I meant more about your drive to succeed. Jeryl always knew what she wanted and was not afraid to go after it. That’s a trait I hope both Ali and Jer inherit.”

Imogene nodded. “You have a bit of that trait yourself,” she said, smiling.

I kissed her as Ali did a cannonball into the pool.

The next morning, I swam for my workout while Imogene stretched and did her own morning routine on the now-shaded terrace. She was lounging with her dance leotard rolled down to her waist by the time I finished my laps. I gave her a kiss and then took her with me to shower off the chlorine.

The next day, I came home to find Ali cajoling her to try sunbathing au natural. She looked at me for help, but I just shook my head and decided to plan a quick sunset hike with Jer who wanted to draw the sunset with some colored charcoal pencils.

That night, as we recovered from our own evening exertions, she asked me about Ali’s behavior.

“What’s the friends and family rule?” she asked.

“Suits are optional when only family and friends can see you swim. Jeryl seldom wore a suit when we were here, unless new friends were staying in one of the cabins. This place was designed for privacy and security. When Ali got old enough to want to copy her mother and aunts and grandmother, we had to have some sort of rules to keep her from stripping down at school to swim. Jer learned the same rules. When we lived in Sydney, it was not unusual for the kids to swim naked, though Jer gets shy swimming with girls.”

“So, Chrissy swam nude with you?” she asked.

I shook my head. “Not nude. Chrissy and Camilla both did go topless at our pool there and on a couple of trips to the beach. We figured we should never make a big deal out of nudity. Our culture has enough hang-ups on other things that actually matter.”

“I didn’t see you swimming laps nude this morning,” Imogene teased.

“It’s suits optional, not suits forbidden. I’ve pretty much always worn a suit swimming. It’s just habit for me. Besides, Nicole sometimes comes over early to swim in the morning. I don’t really need my bodyguard ogling my limp dick when I get out of the pool.”

She laughed.

“You and Jeryl were pretty liberated, sexually, weren’t you?” she asked a minute later.

“We were. We grew up on the edge of the bible-belt, but we both formed our own opinions about sex, independently.” I went on to tell her a bit about our early years.

“Butt sex?” she asked. “You’ve touched me there a couple of times, but I thought it was accidental. I don’t think I’m comfortable with that.”

“Then just tell me that. Jeryl was pretty adventuresome. I always took the attitude that if it did not hurt anyone, why not give it a try?”

“Do you miss it? I mean is that something you’re going to want?” There was a little fear in her voice.

“I’ll tell you the same thing I told Jeryl so many years ago. I get pleasure from giving pleasure. If you want to try that, or anything else, I’m probably game, but I’m not going to push you to do something you’re uncomfortable with.”

She was quiet for a minute, lying on my chest.

“I don’t think I’ll ever be comfortable with that,” she finally said.

“Then we won’t do that.”

“Down ten,” Hunter said as we throttled back the engine.

“Thrust stable, all temps stable,” I said. We were on our second test firing of the new engine, and the first time trying to throttle it below the prior sustained ignition threshold.

“T-plus eight zero seconds, thrust at twenty percent of peak. Reducing to ten,” Hunter said for our recording.

Our test plan was ignition and stable thrust for twenty seconds followed by a planned reduction and ten second pause between reductions. Previous throttling efforts had failed at about one-quarter power, so we had already beaten our prior capability.

“T-plus nine zero second, thrust at ten percent of peak,” Hunter said.

“Thrust stable, all temps stable. Ignition recharge power at thirty percent,” I said.

“Reducing in one percent increments,” Hunter stated.

“T-plus one hundred, thrust at nine percent of peak.”

“Thrust stable, all temps stable. Ignition recharge power at ten percent.”

“T-plus one one zero, thrust at eight -- engine cut-off!”

“Thrust at zero, all temps dropping.”

We both sat back in our chairs and then grinned at each other. We knew we had a winner. Our design goal was to be able to throttle below twelve percent of peak power. At that level, we had a landing engine.

“How long for the cool-down?” Hunter asked.

I glanced at the clock. “I think we’re done until morning.” It was nearly six P.M.

We both stood and stretched.

“So,” hunter said, “post-checks tomorrow and then try the low-thrust start-up Saturday?”

I sighed. “How about we start the low-thrust tests on Monday? I kind of promised Imogene I’d take her to her folks and meet them tomorrow night.”

Hunter nodded. “That works for me. Who’s watching the kids for you?”

“Jyl and Collin should actually be here today. Collin wants to work some on the lunar formulation Tom and I have been hammering at. We want to put in some test foundations on the next mission to Aristarchus.”

“Is Collin going on that trip?”

I nodded. “Jyl is as well. She’ll be the flight surgeon. We’re trying to expand our experience base for lunar ops. If this engine proves out, we’ll refit the OTV’s next year, and start base construction about the same time we’re spinning up Astra Station.”

We finished our shutdown procedures, made sure the automated telemetry was working, and then headed out of the lab control room and back toward the cabins.

“It’s amazing how fast things are moving, but how long it all takes,” Hunter commented. “We looked at the ring modules in the spring, and it felt like it was going to be forever before we had them in orbit, and now we’re talking about starting lunar base construction before that project’s even finished.”

“I know. If this engine tests well, we’ll be finishing Astra, building Aristarchus Base, and re-engineering the whole GOT line in the next nine months. To make matters worse, NASA and the DoD are pressuring us to have on-station space in Astra, and NASA is trying to get berths on the lunar missions. I’m probably going to have to spend a lot more time in D.C. than I want.”

“Better you than me,” he said, laughing as we parted ways at the door to his and Lila’s cabin.

I continued down the tunnel and entered my place to the sound of laughter. A naked Ali came running up to me in the kitchen.

“Aunt Jyl’s here!” Ali said.

“And Uncle Collin?”

Ali nodded as I came far enough inside to see Jer being thrown through the air into the pool by Collin. The source of laughter was evident. I made my way out to the evening sun and said hello to everyone. Imogene gave me a kiss. She was in a white leotard or one-piece swimsuit, looking very sexy.

We all caught up over dinner and then got the kids in bed. Imogene was surprised when Jyl stripped and went for a night swim, and then rejoined us on the outdoor couches with only a towel around her waist.

Jyl laughed at the look.

“Paul’s seen me in the buff before, and Collin knows I’m not going to jump my brother-in-law’s bones. He also knows Paul isn’t going to start chasing my naked ass around the house. I love the feeling of freedom we can get here. I’m pretty sure Collin will be joining me in the pool tomorrow night after the kids are in bed and you guys are out of here.”

I chuckled. Knowing Jyl, I thought they would be doing more than swimming.

We continued to chat for a while and then we all headed to bed. Imogene wasted no time getting naked once we were inside the bedroom and made sure I had little reason to lust after Jyl, and absolutely no energy to do so. I was also rewarded with two of her own spectacular orgasms.

The next day, Hunter and I finished our post firing inspection and set things up for testing the following week, before I kissed the kids goodbye and headed back to the airstrip with Imogene. Nicole had flown ahead to Dallas to make security arrangements and try to keep my meeting Imogene’s family low key in that regard. I teased Imogene about joining the mile-high club, but she drew the line at some casual kissing and petting. She seemed pretty nervous about going home.

“What’s the matter?” I asked. “I thought you’d be excited to visit home.”

“I am, but I’m also a little anxious,” she said. “I’m the baby of the family. Mom has always been incredibly supportive, but she forgets I’ve been out in the world on my own since I was fifteen and won my scholarship to dance in New York. Dad says outright that I’m ‘his little girl’. You’re the first man I’ve brought home to meet them. I just don’t know what to expect.”

“It will be fine.”

She snorted. “My sister brought home a guy from college. She told me that Mom and Dad put him in the guest room over the garage, not even in the house. She warned me not to stay at home if I want to be with you.”

I laughed. “It’s a good thing I’ve got space at the Four Seasons then. Are you going to be staying with me there?”

She nodded, and I gave her hand a squeeze. “I am. I’m a little addicted to your loving after our summer and the past week. Mom and Dad are just going to have to let me grow up.”

We landed at Love Field and were met by Nicole and a security detail. Imogene held my hand tightly as we drove to her house in Carrolton. Her mother and sister rushed out of the house as soon as we pulled up. Her father followed more slowly. I half expected him to be cleaning his shotgun based on Imogene’s description. Imogene performed introductions after giving her family hugs and kisses. I shook her father’s hand.

“It’s good to meet you, sir,” I said as I shook his hand.

“Call me Sam,” he replied. “It’s good to meet you finally. Imogene has been telling us a bit about you over the summer.”

“She’s told me quite a bit about you all, as well,” I said. “It’s so nice to finally put faces to the names and stories.”

“Stories?” Gabriella, Imogene’s sister asked. “What stories has she been telling?”

“Nothing serious, I’m sure,” Patricia, Imogene’s mother said. “Now, let’s not stand outside. Let’s go inside and sit down. If feels like ages since I’ve seen my little girl,” she said.

The ladies went inside. Sam and I grabbed Imogene’s two large suitcases. Sam either did not notice or chose to ignore Imogene’s dance bag which was left behind. We dropped the bags at the foot of the stairs in the foyer. The women were chatting in the living room. I heard Imogene describing Ireland.

“Can I interest you in a beer?” Sam asked.

“Sure,” I said as I followed him into the kitchen. He handed me a Shiner Bock bottle and we toasted one another before taking sips.

“This may be old fashioned,” Sam said, “but I’d like to know your intentions toward Imogene.”

I nodded. “We’re still getting to know each other. We’ve spent time together dating over the summer as our schedules allowed and obviously she spent the past week in Nevada with my kids and me. Unfortunately, we are both about to get busy with our separate lives, so we’ll have to see if our relationship can survive some time apart.”

Sam sipped his beer again, choosing his words. “You’re not planning on making her your kept woman in New York?” he finally asked. “I worry about her losing her way up there. I’ve tried to be supportive, but those theater and dance folks seem to be a bit flighty. They have some strange ideas.”

I shook my head. “I understand. Her friends that I met in Ireland were all nice people. The work they do to perform at their level requires a dedication and discipline that is pretty amazing. I don’t see Imogene or her friends taking on a risky lifestyle.”

“That’s good to hear. How about you? You mentioned your kids, that must keep you close to home.”

It was my turn to sip my beer.

“Yes and no,” I finally replied. “I try to stay close to home and spend time with them, but I can also afford to have help with them and I need to travel some for my work. Right now, my sister-in-law is watching them in Nevada. Next week, I’ll need to take them back to Utah and make sure they’re ready for school. I like to be home for the first few weeks of school to make sure they’re settled but will probably then have a few overnight business trips. Fortunately, I have some fast planes to get around in.”

“How old are they?” Sam asked.

We settled into an easy back and forth, getting a feel for one another. Sam was a mechanical engineer and understood a lot of the challenges I and my teams were facing. I was interested in hearing more about his small consulting firm. We had just opened a second pair of beers when Imogene, Patricia, and Gabriella came into the kitchen.

“You don’t have your shotgun out, yet, daddy,” Gabriella teased. “Paul must have said something right.”

Sam smiled. “We were just dickering on how much I have to pay him to take you and your sister off my hands,” he fired back, earning a laugh from Patricia and a look of shock from his daughters.

“I don’t think you could afford that,” Imogene said. “He’s already got the best daughter, and plenty of money!”

I laughed at them.

“Well,” Patricia said, “Let’s get cleaned up and go out to dinner. We need to welcome Imogene home properly.”

I insisted on treating them to dinner at the Four Seasons. We enjoyed dinner and a lively conversation before finally calling it a night. Sam had relaxed but looked a little cross when Imogene kissed him goodnight rather than get in the car to drive home with them.

“We’ll see you tomorrow,” she said.

Once they were on their way and we were back in my suite, she grabbed me for a kiss.

“Thank you,” she said. “You were wonderful. I was so worried things would get messed up.”

“They love you, and care about you. So, do I,” I said.

“You love me?” Her eyes were big as she looked up at me.

I nodded, and she hugged me fiercely.

“I love you, too. Thank you for a wonderful homecoming.”

“Crap!” Hunter said as our software cycled the engine back down to a pre-start state when ignition failed yet again.

“It’s alright,” I said. “At least we know the control software is working.”

“But we haven’t been able to get initial ignition below twenty-eight percent thrust,” he replied. “Lift-off from the lunar surface is going to be about six gees with the current OTV return mass.”

I nodded. “That’s tolerable, but not optimal. We can either increase the mass, which could have benefits as well, or keep working on the generator programming. I think we can get the magnetic fields a little tighter. Look at this run,” I said as I pointed to my monitor.

We had been working the problems for nearly two weeks. I had taken some breaks to get the kids back home and ready for school but had taken to spending days in Nevada and flying home to Park City around four each day. Hunter, Ian, and Lila were just staying at the lab.

“How can we get that sort of vortex in the fields?” Hunter asked as he looked at the simulation I had built.

“I think we can add three rings of controllers and then program the field matrices. It should only take a couple of days to install the controllers. If you want to tackle that, I’ll take the field programming.”

He nodded. “I’ll get started on the fabrication tomorrow.”

“Sounds good. I’ll work from Park City for the rest of the week and get the programming knocked out.”

“We need to figure out how to get some more engineers up to speed on this stuff,” Hunter said. “The fabrication side is straight forward, but only you and I have much experience programing the magnetic flows. I don’t like the idea of so much custom work being known only to us.”

“That’s a good point. The two of us are becoming a limiting factor on our velocity. Everything else we do has a team of people working on it,” I said.

We looked at each other. “So how do we fix that?” I asked.

“We can add it as an advanced course of study to the training pipeline,” he suggested.

I shook my head. “I don’t think I want our ops teams tinkering with the flows or having an inclination to tinker with them. We might identify some people to send to training, but this work takes a different mindset. Hell, I’m probably the only person that can teach it to start.”

He was nodding.

“I’ll talk to Tamara and we’ll start figuring out how to structure it. Then I’ll just need to clone myself to have enough time to teach it.”

Hunter laughed.

“How are things going with the long-distance relationship?” He asked. “Maybe you need a clone to take care of that, too.”

I scowled. “Imogene is just as busy as I am. She’s back to practice six and seven days a week. I was going to hop out there next weekend, but she has no time free.”

“I understand. Lila’s going to have to head back to London soon. I want to get this problem solved. What’s that Chinese curse about interesting times?”

We wrapped up our work and then headed our separate ways. I thought about teaching on the flight home, jotting down some notes and sending Tamara a note to book some time to discuss. I spent some time with the kids, hearing about their day and then finished some work in the home office before heading to bed.

All too soon the routine of workout, kids, work, kids, work became the norm.

Hunter and Lila headed back across the pond after we got the engine start down to eighteen percent peak power. Billy and Tom were splitting time between the DigiNews movie, and a special season of ‘The Interns’ in support of the 2002 Winter Olympics. Allen was growing into his role as head of orbital operations and Tamara was thriving with a group of PAs reporting into her. All of the business heads were managing their own operations. I was focused on milestones for our lunar operations and working out a syllabus for generator programming.

September slipped by.

“Tamara, get me Kelly!” I yelled as I looked at the news article on the DigiNews home page.

Tamara came into my office. “The Senate is in session. I won’t be able to get a hold of her. Do you want me to leave a message?”

“Get me that new general at the Pentagon,” I snapped. “If the DOJ is starting up an anti-trust task force on us, I’m going to shut everything down and let them make shit themselves.”

“General Patterson, this is Paul Taylor,” I said five minutes later. “Is there any truth to the story that the Department of Justice is looking at anti-trust issues with my business?”

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